Royal Challengers Bengaluru have won the toss and elected to bowl first against Punjab Kings in Match 37 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025. The high-stakes clash is being played at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur, Chandigarh.
Speaking at the toss, RCB captain Rajat Patidar said, “We’re going to bowl first. The wicket looks decent and won’t change much. Batting second will give us more clarity about the game and the wicket.” He also confirmed a change in the playing XI with Romario Shepherd coming in for Liam Livingstone.
Meanwhile, Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer revealed that he too would have preferred to bowl. “We also wanted to bowl. But at the end of the day, you have to adapt to the situation. It’s the first afternoon game for us, so we’ll take our time, assess conditions, and hopefully put a good total on the board,” said Iyer. PBKS have gone in with an unchanged XI.
Punjab Kings, with five wins in seven matches, are looking to consolidate their strong position in the points table, while RCB are aiming to bounce back after their recent defeat to the same opposition just two days ago.
The weather is hot and slightly cloudy in Mullanpur, with temperatures hovering around 37°C. The pitch is expected to be batter-friendly but could assist seamers with early movement.
The match is scheduled to begin at 3:30 PM IST and is being broadcast live on Star Sports and JioHotstar.
